U.S. Press Sec. Jen Psaki tests positive for COVID-19

Press Secretary Jen Pskai tested postive for the Coronavirus in a break-through case on Monday. She announced in a statement that she was attending to members of her household who had contracted the virus. Due to this family emergency, she did not travel to the G20 of COP26 events with the president. sending Deputy Press Sec. Karine Jean Pierre instead. She said she did not have any contact with Pres. Joe Biden prior to getting infected.

The Slice wishes PS Psaki and her family a speedy recovery. The entire statement follows.

From Press Secretary Jen Psaki:

On Wednesday, in coordination with senior leadership at the White House and the medical team, I made the decision not to travel on the foreign trip with the President due to a family emergency, which was members of my household testing positive for COVID-19. Since then, I have quarantined and tested negative (via PCR) for COVID on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. However, today, I tested positive for COVID. While I have not had close contact in person with the President or senior members of the White House staff since Wednesday – and tested negative for four days after that last contact -- I am disclosing today’s positive test out of an abundance of transparency. I last saw the President on Tuesday, when we sat outside more than six-feet apart, and wore masks.

Thanks to the vaccine, I have only experienced mild symptoms which has enabled me to continue working from home. I will plan to return to work in person at the conclusion of the ten day quarantine following a negative rapid test, which is an additional White House requirement, beyond CDC guidance, taken out of an abundance of caution.